Talking Heads Rouchenberg cover
Why The Music Touched Me.
There have been several bands or artists that have affected
and influenced me in certain ways through the years. Most of all it was that
they seemed to be having fun doing what they were doing. They each in one way
or another made me want to be in that band or be them. They left me wanting
more. All had some connection to art, whether it was attending art school,
using artist for their covers or having an artistic bent.
The First was the BEATLES. Like so many others at the time
when I saw them on Ed Sullivan I wanted to be in a band like so many others.
What I liked about them was the harmonies & the melodies tied to a rock
beat. They were a good cover band too, as seen on their first few albums. Before
them Radio was fodder for the masses. They and the British bands in their wake changed
everything. So I started a band with my neighbors Jim Carson who already played
lead guitar and next door Gary who took up guitar. I was left to the drums. We
knew little about bass, but we had fun. It didn’t hurt that they had art school
connections and pop artist did two of there covers.
Later my friend Steve Smith got me hooked on ROD STEWART when
he was with Jeff Beck. When Stewart went on to do his own stuff it was his use
of unconventional instruments like the mandolin, acoustic slide and banjo that
hooked me. It was especially that extraordinary voice. I wanted to sing like
that so I tried gargling with brandy to get it. In the end it was really the
feeling he had that did it. This was of course before Clive Davis led him
astray. I was in a band at this time that was more bluesy rock & roll with
a Stones, Faces influence named Samurai. Jim was Lead guitar again in that
band, my brother was the bass player. Of all the bands I was in this one was a
lot of fun.
DAVID BOWEY came along at right time for me. At the time of
Ziggy Stardust I wanted more so I searched out his earlier stuff. His main
influence at that time was lyrics since the band I was in which was an
extension of Samurai was more progressive and going for a jazz influence.We were called Spooo. We
were too smart for our own good. My brother was the bass player in that band.
Ralf, one f the guitarists is still a close friend.
It was when the
TALKING HEADS came along that I started getting into rhythm and new wave. Their
was something fresh about them. Again
there was an art school connection they met at the Long Island School of Design
and Robert Rauschenberg did a cover for them.
I had quit music by this time but they were an influence on
the paintings I was doing at the time.
This brings me to LUCIUS. I discovered this band while
researching Belgian pop painter Evelyn Axell. I found them because Axell did
their first album cover. They have everything I saw in the other bands, five
singers for the harmonies/voices, rhythm tied to melodies and a joy that comes
across in their live shows. I like their choice of cover tunes also. Their
instrumentation is unconventional and uses slide guitar. Like the others they
look like a band I would like to be in, but I don’t know what I would do, all
they seem to lack is a bass. I guess they know little about bass, but it looks
like they are having fun. Again a band one wants to be a part of, I don't know what I would do though, I play drums and they are a drummers dream. They too seem to know little about bass. I like there retro look and stance also.
One side of me wants to keep an artist as my secret, but
then I think everyone should hear them…the dilemma. I do hope they get as big
as the others.
Peter Blake Beatles Cover
No comments:
Post a Comment